Effect of acupressure therapy on insomnia and dizziness among patients undergoing hemodialysis

Abstract

Background Acupressure is a low-cost treatment that has potential as an insomnia and dizziness therapy, especially in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD). It helps to improve sleep, relieve stress and tension, relax muscles and joints, minimize headache, as well treat the symptoms of dizziness. Aim The aim was to evaluate the effect of acupressure therapy on insomnia and dizziness among patients undergoing HD. Patients and methods A quasiexperimental (time series design) study was conducted. This study was conducted on the second floor of Nephrology–Dialysis–Transplantation Center at Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, affiliated with Cairo University. A nonprobability convenient consecutive sample of 88 adult male and female patients who have been on regular HD at least for 3 months was enrolled in this study. Three tools were used for data collection: first, Structured Interview Questionnaire regarding demographic and medical-related data; second, Insomnia Severity Index; and third, Dizziness Assessment Tool. Results The study findings revealed that the mean age of the study and control group was 47.3±14.5 and 48.2±14.0 years, respectively. When analyzing insomnia level within three assessments at baseline and after 6 and 12 sessions, correspondingly, a significant difference was found between both groups, with higher reduction in the group that received acupressure (P=0.0001). Moreover, a statistically significant reduction of dizziness level in both groups was also observed, but a higher reduction was observed in the study group (P=0.02). Conclusion Acupressure is effective in improving sleep and dizziness level among patients on HD. Recommendation The study should be replicated on a larger probability sample, matched on the variable of sex.